Clever storage solutions and furnishings can help you make the most of your space, add a wow factor to your design and increase profit opportunities. Francesca Seden reports…
Storage is an essential element of kitchen design, yet it's fair to say that until now most consumers have taken this category for granted, paying less attention to it than the overall aesthetic. When this word is uttered, what probably comes to mind is “cupboards” or “drawers” and, if the homeowner's home is large enough, a utility room.
These days, things have changed dramatically, with #beautility, #shelfie and #shelfiegame all trending on Instagram. Social media has played a major role in beautifying the kitchen, and impeccably designed, practical and attractive storage is at the heart of it.
Latest trends and innovations include both clever hidden storage, using mechanical and wire wizardry behind doors, and fully open, glass-fronted display storage, which has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
In addition to these simultaneous trends, Lisa Robinson, Marketing Team Leader at Blum, points out another “dual trend”: On the one hand, living spaces are shrinking and space is becoming more and more precious, but paradoxically, people are opening up their downstairs living areas as one big space, so having flexible options available is beneficial.
When it comes to invisible storage, manufacturers are coming up with clever ways to make the most of underutilized or unused space by incorporating technology like lighting and power outlets behind doors.
Particularly noteworthy recent innovations include Poliform's Deep Shaker Move System, Blum's REVEGO pocket doors, Hettich's LightTower, Kessebohmer's TurnMotion III and Blanco's under-sink storage solution, the Multi Frame.
Cathy Jones, brand manager at Masterclass Kitchens, points to a trend towards integrating appliances behind neatly hidden doors within kitchen furniture, as well as dedicated storage for utility room items such as ironing boards and vacuum cleaners: “Customers are looking to be able to store a range of utility items that would normally end up knocked over otherwise.”
Hidden Helper
In addition to storing the usual items like pots, pans, and dishes, feature bars also remain popular, as do walk-in pantries and hidden breakfast areas.
Josie Medved, design manager at Symphony, adds: “Another new feature is the bi-fold dresser, which can be used as a small appliance station, as larger items such as a toaster, food mixer/processor or bread machine can be hidden away on the work surface. It's also very popular to have stations for breakfast, coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages within the pantry or bi-fold dresser. These are perfect for the kitchen or other areas of the home as they can be easily tucked away behind a door. The split plan trend is driving interest in some of these solutions.”
When it comes to open storage, you can consider a combination of fully open and glass-fronted options, which allow homeowners to display their finest crockery or create a “statement shelf” that lets them make a personal statement. Open shelving is a great way to personalize a kitchen, and leaded or fluted glass cabinets, which last fell out of favor in the 1970s, have made a comeback, offering visual interest and sophistication.
Open cabinets are also a great way to make a space feel less closed in. They can also be used in the form of open storage walls or shelving to separate your kitchen from the rest of your space.
Great recent examples of open storage include FurnSpin by Hettich, which made its UK debut at the KBB show, Rotpunkt's illuminated wall solution and Schüller's vertical storage series. There's also the next125, a multi-purpose trolley that's on wheels for easy mobility and can store everything from drinks to stationery. This final product has been around for a while and is certainly a bit unusual as it's freestanding, but it shows the innovation that designers have at hand to make the most of the opportunity.
Learned Layout
As for how designers can best utilise storage solutions to maximise practicality, this month's contributors made a few notable points: Firstly, it's important to know your client's needs and understand their lifestyle and storage needs.
Danny Wood, CEO of Arbor Lane, suggests presenting these solutions to clients in an easy-to-understand context, explaining how each layout addresses their specific storage requirements.
Then, think about how to make the most of the space itself, for example by using vertical cabinets. Fabiana Scavolini, CEO of Italian furniture brand Scavolini, recommends opting for full-height wall-mounted units, alternating designs so that some are covered and some are open to show off what's inside. She says using vertical space like this is especially useful in small kitchens.
It's worth considering having some sort of display storage, even if it's just one shelf, as this will help break up the space and allow your client to inject some personality into the design.
Plus, kitchen shelves help create an open, easily accessible space for storing kitchen accessories and supplies, says Bill Miller, managing director of KBBG. “Containers, hooks and shelves work together to create the perfect storage solution.”
The element of surprise
Several brands are embracing the concept of utilising wall space: Rotpunkt incorporates LED lighting into its solutions, while Schüller's options come with herb boxes and plant boxes that can be hung to create an herb wall.
Lighting is another very important consideration, as it highlights both the open elements and inside the cabinets, making it easy to see what you're looking for.
Matt Phillips, UK operations director at Rotopunkt, says it's important to be aware of the interplay between lighting and storage in order to “increase hazard awareness and prepare and cook food efficiently.” He says that people over 65 can require twice as much brightness as someone in their 20s, so kitchen lighting needs to be a key consideration at the planning stage.
Beyond product solutions, innovative techniques designed into the furniture itself, such as benches and hinged window seats, are another way to incorporate storage while also adding a handy, multi-functional touch.
David Milner, senior business development manager at PWS, points out that innovative food storage “fully pays for itself” by reducing food waste, as it gives people a better idea of what they have and makes food less likely to be shoved to the back of the cupboard and forgotten about.
To sell storage solutions more effectively in showrooms, contributors' key message was to decorate displays with items that would naturally be found in a kitchen, giving customers a visual sense of how the solution would work in a home. Masterclass's Jones adds that storage options should be presented as an integral part of the kitchen design story, making them an integral part of the design stage so they don't get overlooked. Finally, adding wirework and other internal fittings is an easy upsell, as they're both very useful and visually appealing, says Josie Medved of Symphony.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Hunt, head of marketing at Hettich UK, points out the importance of giving customers that 'wow' moment. For Hettich, this is achieved through the LightTower, but anything that offers an element of wow can be equally effective.
WHAT'S IN STORE: We hear from a selection of designers about how they’re maximising opportunities in this sectorThis element of surprise is something that it used to great effect by Regal Kitchens in Chelmsford, where its hero display is a Schüller design with a hidden door leading to a secret utility room. “Customers love this!” showroom owner John Martin explains. “A lot of our customers haven’t seen this sort of hidden door before so it really offers the ‘wow’ factor, and people love stepping through to the utility.” Additionally, Martin tells us, when we interviewed him for our Showroom of the Month feature, the retailer tries to set itself apart through its attention to detail – with the internal elements and dressing that makes a kitchen pop.
Similarly, at Rugby Fitted Kitchens, is a Next125 gin and cocktail cabinet display that is an excellent example of how proper dressing can make a design come to life. Owner Trevor Scott adds that one of the main principles of good storage design is that of invisibility! It should be concealed behind cabinet doors or drawers until opened in a ‘Grand Reveal!’
He adds that customers are also most interested in products that make access to corners easier, such as Magic and LeMans corners, followed by pull out or Tandem style tall larders. “Wide deep drawers also feature heavily as aesthetically they are very attractive but practically speaking, especially for more elderly or physically infirm customers, bringing the back of a bottom cupboard out to the front makes this otherwise difficult to access space so much more user friendly.”
Finally, Elizabeth Pantling Jones of Lima Kitchens says that her clients are sometimes “caught in the idea that a larder/pantry unit will resolve ALL of their issues, and do not consider the full accessibility of all of their investment. Creating storage plans and flow charts can help with this and prevent their investments prematurely aging and becoming problematic and frustrating.”
